Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan

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Cover page of Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan

City Council adopted Wheat Ridge's first Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan on January 9, 2023. The adopted plan is available to view online here, or by clicking the plan's cover page shown on the right.

Since then, the city has made meaningful progress across all ten priority areas—from establishing a dedicated Housing Fund to preserving affordable units, hiring dedicated staff, and adopting a new comprehensive plan, the City Plan. This page summarizes where things stand and what's ahead.

What we've accomplished together so far

  • Created a housing fund and dedicated staff person to lead housing programs
  • Filed a commitment to Proposition 123, allowing the city and housing partners to become eligible for grant programs from the state’s affordable housing fund.
  • Provided funds and land to housing partners to assist in the development of affordable housing
  • Updating zoning regulations to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs), reduced parking requirements, and waived parkland dedication fees to allow more housing variety
  • Received $9 million in state and federal funds to help support the city’s housing programs and the development of affordable units.

What we are working on

The adopted strategy prioritizes ten actions to address the issues identified. The list below is a brief summary of those actions that will be updated periodically as implementation progresses. The Strategy provides a more detailed summary of the action items and how they tie to Wheat Ridge's specific housing needs and opportunities.

Affordable Housing Strategy Action Item
(in order of priority)		 Brief Description Status (October 2026)

Revise Zoning Framework for Community Benefit

Require all projects in mixed-use districts to either produce mixed-use or inclusionary affordable housing, and establish a new R-4 district with inclusionary requirements.Last year, city council paused work on an inclusionary housing zoning (IHZ) framework to pursue a nexus study for a housing impact linkage fee. The city selected Economic Planning Systems (EPS) to complete this study, which is underway. Staff will bring findings to council in early 2027.
Wheat Ridge Housing Fund
A dedicated fund to receive, hold, and deploy financial resources specifically in support of affordable housing activities.Staff prepared an update to council on September 21, which included information on programs and policy currently being programmed for the housing fund over the next two to three years. Future discussions on the housing fund will occur based on findings from the housing impact fee nexus study.
Housing-Supportive Code AmendmentsAmend the City’s code to support affordable housing development in areas such as: process, fees, parking minimums, “no net loss,” etc.The city received funds from the Colorado Energy Office Local IMPACT Accelerator Grant to hire a consultant to analyze the zoning code and support staff in drafting housing-supportive and commercial zoning code amendments. Staff is evaluating proposals to select a consultant to complete this work. Staff will bring the findings of the zoning code analysis, along with any policy recommendations, to council in 2027.
Continue Lutheran Legacy Implementation Efforts
Continue preparing for the eventual Lutheran redevelopment and set clear expectations.This action item is complete. Visit the Lutheran Legacy Campus webpage for the latest redevelopment updates.
Housing StaffHire a staff person dedicated to housing program management.The city's Senior Housing Planner leads housing policy and programs.
Comprehensive Plan UpdateUse the comprehensive plan process to reaffirm community support for affordable housing goals and establish community’s vision for growth and development.This item is complete. City Council adopted the City Plan on September 8. Learn more about the effort and read the adopted plan on the City Plan webpage.
Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) Preservation ProgramA program to make grants from the Wheat Ridge Housing Fund to rental property owners to upgrade aging rental units in exchange for affordable rents.The city was awarded $2 million from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development to preserve NOAH units. The city has decided to allocate all grant funds to Foothills Regional Housing to purchase and convert the 16-unit Fruitdale School Lofts property into affordable housing. FRH hopes to close on the property this year.
Update Development Code and Zoning MapFollowing the update to the comprehensive plan, update the city’s code and zoning map to reflect the plan. The community-wide discussion of whether, where, and how to accommodate new housing is best suited for the comprehensive plan where public engagement will play an important role.The city received funds from the Colorado Energy Office Local IMPACT Accelerator Grant to hire a consultant to analyze the zoning code and support staff in drafting housing-supportive and commercial zoning code amendments. Staff is evaluating proposals to select a consultant to complete this work. Staff will bring the findings of the zoning code analysis, along with any policy recommendations, to council in 2027.
Exploration of Changes to Charter Limits on Height and DensityFollowing the update to the comprehensive plan, establish a commission to study the possibility of amending the city charter’s current limits on height and density in order to make a recommendation for a potential ballot question.This item is complete. In November 2024, Wheat Ridge voters approved changes to the City Charter allowing taller buildings in the center of the Lutheran Legacy Campus in exchange for shorter buildings around the edges. Future discussion on this action item will come from implementation of the recently adopted City Plan.
Update Affordable Housing Strategy and Action PlanUpdate this document to respond to new conditions and events.Staff is evaluating the plan for compliance with SB24-174 and other applicable state law.


This page is updated quarterly, as implementation progresses. For questions, please contact Shannon Terrell, Senior Housing Planner, at sterrell@wheatridge.gov.

Cover page of Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan

City Council adopted Wheat Ridge's first Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan on January 9, 2023. The adopted plan is available to view online here, or by clicking the plan's cover page shown on the right.

Since then, the city has made meaningful progress across all ten priority areas—from establishing a dedicated Housing Fund to preserving affordable units, hiring dedicated staff, and adopting a new comprehensive plan, the City Plan. This page summarizes where things stand and what's ahead.

What we've accomplished together so far

  • Created a housing fund and dedicated staff person to lead housing programs
  • Filed a commitment to Proposition 123, allowing the city and housing partners to become eligible for grant programs from the state’s affordable housing fund.
  • Provided funds and land to housing partners to assist in the development of affordable housing
  • Updating zoning regulations to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs), reduced parking requirements, and waived parkland dedication fees to allow more housing variety
  • Received $9 million in state and federal funds to help support the city’s housing programs and the development of affordable units.

What we are working on

The adopted strategy prioritizes ten actions to address the issues identified. The list below is a brief summary of those actions that will be updated periodically as implementation progresses. The Strategy provides a more detailed summary of the action items and how they tie to Wheat Ridge's specific housing needs and opportunities.

Affordable Housing Strategy Action Item
(in order of priority)		 Brief Description Status (October 2026)

Revise Zoning Framework for Community Benefit

Require all projects in mixed-use districts to either produce mixed-use or inclusionary affordable housing, and establish a new R-4 district with inclusionary requirements.Last year, city council paused work on an inclusionary housing zoning (IHZ) framework to pursue a nexus study for a housing impact linkage fee. The city selected Economic Planning Systems (EPS) to complete this study, which is underway. Staff will bring findings to council in early 2027.
Wheat Ridge Housing Fund
A dedicated fund to receive, hold, and deploy financial resources specifically in support of affordable housing activities.Staff prepared an update to council on September 21, which included information on programs and policy currently being programmed for the housing fund over the next two to three years. Future discussions on the housing fund will occur based on findings from the housing impact fee nexus study.
Housing-Supportive Code AmendmentsAmend the City’s code to support affordable housing development in areas such as: process, fees, parking minimums, “no net loss,” etc.The city received funds from the Colorado Energy Office Local IMPACT Accelerator Grant to hire a consultant to analyze the zoning code and support staff in drafting housing-supportive and commercial zoning code amendments. Staff is evaluating proposals to select a consultant to complete this work. Staff will bring the findings of the zoning code analysis, along with any policy recommendations, to council in 2027.
Continue Lutheran Legacy Implementation Efforts
Continue preparing for the eventual Lutheran redevelopment and set clear expectations.This action item is complete. Visit the Lutheran Legacy Campus webpage for the latest redevelopment updates.
Housing StaffHire a staff person dedicated to housing program management.The city's Senior Housing Planner leads housing policy and programs.
Comprehensive Plan UpdateUse the comprehensive plan process to reaffirm community support for affordable housing goals and establish community’s vision for growth and development.This item is complete. City Council adopted the City Plan on September 8. Learn more about the effort and read the adopted plan on the City Plan webpage.
Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) Preservation ProgramA program to make grants from the Wheat Ridge Housing Fund to rental property owners to upgrade aging rental units in exchange for affordable rents.The city was awarded $2 million from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development to preserve NOAH units. The city has decided to allocate all grant funds to Foothills Regional Housing to purchase and convert the 16-unit Fruitdale School Lofts property into affordable housing. FRH hopes to close on the property this year.
Update Development Code and Zoning MapFollowing the update to the comprehensive plan, update the city’s code and zoning map to reflect the plan. The community-wide discussion of whether, where, and how to accommodate new housing is best suited for the comprehensive plan where public engagement will play an important role.The city received funds from the Colorado Energy Office Local IMPACT Accelerator Grant to hire a consultant to analyze the zoning code and support staff in drafting housing-supportive and commercial zoning code amendments. Staff is evaluating proposals to select a consultant to complete this work. Staff will bring the findings of the zoning code analysis, along with any policy recommendations, to council in 2027.
Exploration of Changes to Charter Limits on Height and DensityFollowing the update to the comprehensive plan, establish a commission to study the possibility of amending the city charter’s current limits on height and density in order to make a recommendation for a potential ballot question.This item is complete. In November 2024, Wheat Ridge voters approved changes to the City Charter allowing taller buildings in the center of the Lutheran Legacy Campus in exchange for shorter buildings around the edges. Future discussion on this action item will come from implementation of the recently adopted City Plan.
Update Affordable Housing Strategy and Action PlanUpdate this document to respond to new conditions and events.Staff is evaluating the plan for compliance with SB24-174 and other applicable state law.


This page is updated quarterly, as implementation progresses. For questions, please contact Shannon Terrell, Senior Housing Planner, at sterrell@wheatridge.gov.

  • Investing in housing

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    Grant funds secured

    The city has pursued several grant opportunities as a key strategy to build the housing fund and support our affordable partners in constructing affordable units for the community. Since the adoption of the plan, Wheat Ridge has secured over $11 million toward affordable housing development, programming, and policies including:

    AmountPurpose

    $2 million

    U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – supporting preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH), directed to Foothills Regional Housing (FRH) to preserve the affordability of Fruitdale School Lofts, a 16-unit apartment building.

    $4.5 million

    Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) — supporting new senior and family affordable housing development

    $50,000

    Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) – funding a housing impact fee study.

    $2.6 million

    Colorado Energy Office (CEO) – Supporting zoning code updates, rebate programs for qualifying ADUs and multi-family developments, and soft costs assistance for affordable projects.

    $2 million
    		Colorado Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) – supporting the acquisition of a property that will include new construction of 50 units of affordable housing for older adults by MGL Partners at the Lutheran Legacy Campus.


    These grant funds will be used to acquire and preserve NOAH units, fund public improvements for affordable housing, acquire land to build new affordable housing units, complete a zoning audit to implement goals from both the City Plan and AHS, and evaluate a housing impact linkage fee through a nexus study.




    Grant funds secured

    The city has pursued several grant opportunities as a key strategy to build the housing fund and support our affordable partners in constructing affordable units for the community. Since the adoption of the plan, Wheat Ridge has secured over $11 million toward affordable housing development, programming, and policies including:

    AmountPurpose

    $2 million

    U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – supporting preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH), directed to Foothills Regional Housing (FRH) to preserve the affordability of Fruitdale School Lofts, a 16-unit apartment building.

    $4.5 million

    Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) — supporting new senior and family affordable housing development

    $50,000

    Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) – funding a housing impact fee study.

    $2.6 million

    Colorado Energy Office (CEO) – Supporting zoning code updates, rebate programs for qualifying ADUs and multi-family developments, and soft costs assistance for affordable projects.

    $2 million
    		Colorado Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) – supporting the acquisition of a property that will include new construction of 50 units of affordable housing for older adults by MGL Partners at the Lutheran Legacy Campus.


    These grant funds will be used to acquire and preserve NOAH units, fund public improvements for affordable housing, acquire land to build new affordable housing units, complete a zoning audit to implement goals from both the City Plan and AHS, and evaluate a housing impact linkage fee through a nexus study.




  • Wheat Ridge Housing Fund

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    Creation and accomplishments

    The Wheat Ridge Housing Fund was created in 2023 as a dedicated resource for affordable housing activities. The housing fund is funded by a portion of the short-term rental lodger’s tax revenues and receives a small portion of those funds annually.

    Since 2023, the city has used the Housing Fund to provide gap funding to Foothills Regional Housing to acquire NOAH properties and land to further the construction of affordable units. The funds have been used to support the acquisition of Foothills Regional Housing Vance Street Lofts and multi-phased development of the Ives Campus.

    The Affordable Housing Strategy directs staff to be opportunistic by pursuing strong grant opportunities as they arise, and that approach has paid off with over $9 million in secured funding. Formal programming of the Housing Fund has been deliberately sequenced to follow this grant work, and key planning decisions are still underway.

    Next steps

    Before determining how to program the housing fund, the city is working through several important questions:

    • Evaluate a housing impact fee nexus study (funded by a $50K grant), to identify a secondary funding source for the fund. The RFP will be released in the summer to select a qualified firm to conduct the study.
    • Clarify the future role of the Wheat Ridge Housing Authority, which has been dormant for several years. WRHA does not control the Housing Fund, but its future direction may have financial and procedural implications for how the fund is structured and deployed.

    Once these questions are better understood, staff will return to City Council to discuss priorities and program options. Possibilities include gap financing for affordable projects, support for accessory dwelling units, first-time homebuyer assistance, housing preservation, and other housing initiatives. Council will ultimately set the direction based on community needs and available resources.

    Creation and accomplishments

    The Wheat Ridge Housing Fund was created in 2023 as a dedicated resource for affordable housing activities. The housing fund is funded by a portion of the short-term rental lodger’s tax revenues and receives a small portion of those funds annually.

    Since 2023, the city has used the Housing Fund to provide gap funding to Foothills Regional Housing to acquire NOAH properties and land to further the construction of affordable units. The funds have been used to support the acquisition of Foothills Regional Housing Vance Street Lofts and multi-phased development of the Ives Campus.

    The Affordable Housing Strategy directs staff to be opportunistic by pursuing strong grant opportunities as they arise, and that approach has paid off with over $9 million in secured funding. Formal programming of the Housing Fund has been deliberately sequenced to follow this grant work, and key planning decisions are still underway.

    Next steps

    Before determining how to program the housing fund, the city is working through several important questions:

    • Evaluate a housing impact fee nexus study (funded by a $50K grant), to identify a secondary funding source for the fund. The RFP will be released in the summer to select a qualified firm to conduct the study.
    • Clarify the future role of the Wheat Ridge Housing Authority, which has been dormant for several years. WRHA does not control the Housing Fund, but its future direction may have financial and procedural implications for how the fund is structured and deployed.

    Once these questions are better understood, staff will return to City Council to discuss priorities and program options. Possibilities include gap financing for affordable projects, support for accessory dwelling units, first-time homebuyer assistance, housing preservation, and other housing initiatives. Council will ultimately set the direction based on community needs and available resources.

  • Why we created the plan and why it matters

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    Course of action

    Wheat Ridge has worked hard over the years to grow and maintain its small-scale “patchwork quilt”. But as our city became more attractive, housing prices climbed. Today, many people who live and work here are struggling to afford a home.

    When housing costs too much, it affects everyone. Families move away. Workers can't afford to live near their jobs. Neighbors lose the ability to stay in the community they love. A healthy city needs housing that works for people at all income levels.

    That's why we created the Affordable Strategy and Action Plan. It's our first-ever look at housing affordability in Wheat Ridge and our commitment to do something about it. We worked with residents, housing developers, and community partners to build it together.

    Our philosophy

    • Keep residents housed — help longtime residents and working families stay in the community they call home
    • Welcome everyone — make sure Wheat Ridge is a place where people of all income levels can live, work, and belong
    • Build a stronger city — a community with housing for workers at every income level is better prepared for the future
    • Take real action — give the city the tools and resources to respond to housing challenges in a thoughtful, lasting way

    We’ve been making meaningful progress on this effort, and we thank you for being part of this community and for caring about its future. More background is available to view in the plan.

    Course of action

    Wheat Ridge has worked hard over the years to grow and maintain its small-scale “patchwork quilt”. But as our city became more attractive, housing prices climbed. Today, many people who live and work here are struggling to afford a home.

    When housing costs too much, it affects everyone. Families move away. Workers can't afford to live near their jobs. Neighbors lose the ability to stay in the community they love. A healthy city needs housing that works for people at all income levels.

    That's why we created the Affordable Strategy and Action Plan. It's our first-ever look at housing affordability in Wheat Ridge and our commitment to do something about it. We worked with residents, housing developers, and community partners to build it together.

    Our philosophy

    • Keep residents housed — help longtime residents and working families stay in the community they call home
    • Welcome everyone — make sure Wheat Ridge is a place where people of all income levels can live, work, and belong
    • Build a stronger city — a community with housing for workers at every income level is better prepared for the future
    • Take real action — give the city the tools and resources to respond to housing challenges in a thoughtful, lasting way

    We’ve been making meaningful progress on this effort, and we thank you for being part of this community and for caring about its future. More background is available to view in the plan.

Page last updated: 30 Sep 2026, 02:47 PM